Pro Life South Dakota

Those of you from South Dakota, like I am, as well as any other person who is pro life will find this interesting.  Apparently there is a bill (House Bill 1191) in the South Dakota Legislature that seeks to directly challenge Roe vs. Wade.

"A South Dakota legislator is hoping his bill outlawing nearly all abortions in the state will be the catalyst for overturning the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which was handed down exactly 31 years ago. "

"According to a statement form the center, the bill already has the support of a majority of members of both the state House and Senate. It was designed to "directly confront" Roe v. Wade, which overturned laws against abortion in all 50 states."

"This is a decision that should be made by the people in each of the states through their elected representatives, not by nine un-elected judges in a courtroom 1,500 miles from the capitol of South Dakota. This bill puts South Dakota in the forefront of the nation and says we will lead the fight to protect unborn children," said McCaulley, a Republican who was 4 months old when the high-court decision came down."

"Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the center, acknowledged a likely court battle would ensue if the legislation is passed. "Roe v. Wade was an exercise of raw judicial power not based on any reasonable interpretation of the constitutional text," said Thompson. "The Roe decision carries the same moral implications as the Dred Scott decision that upheld slavery by regarding a segment of our population as non-persons. The court was wrong then, and the court is wrong now. We have a moral responsibility to confront this lawless decision whenever the opportunity presents itself.""

If you are from South Dakota get behind this.  Even if you are not from South Dakota get behind this.  Here is a link to a listing of all the state representatives.  Call or write them to encourage them to do the right thing. 

Archbishop Burke's Installation Homily

Some readers have asked for a copy of the text of Archbishop Burke's homily on the day of his installation. Click here to read it.

Did Archbishop Burke Cross A Line?

According to Robert P. George & Gerard V. Bradley in their article entitled "Leading His Flock", the answer is no.  They say:

"The "crossing the line" charge is silly. In acting on his authority as a bishop to discipline members of his flock, Bishop Burke is exercising his own constitutional right to the free exercise of religion; he is not depriving others of their rights. No one is compelled by law to accept his authority. But Bishop Burke has every right to exercise his spiritual authority over anyone who chooses to accept it. There is a name for such people: They are called "Catholics.""

They are right.  If someone wants to call themselves Catholic, then they should act accordingly.

Joe London Is Back

Those of you who have been reading this blog for any length of time will remember my conversations with Joe London.  After a long absence it appears that he is back to bloging.  I am glad that he is back and I hope that we will be able to pick up where we left off in our dialogue.  As fellow blogger pongo said in the comments section of one of Mr. London's posts "well, well, well --- whew! all is right with the world when joelondon and drchrist are back in touch. i used to take it for granted in the old days. now after the dry period, it's as comforting as my old slippers..." 

Here We Go Again...

Once again the "tolerant" gay and lesbian community is being intolerant of people who have views other than theirs. 

"On Saturday, the Reuters news service reported that the Center for Equal Opportunities and Struggle against Racism said it would sue the cardinal (Gustaaf Cardinal Joos) for violating anti-discrimination laws. "The case was made worse by the fact that the cardinal stood by his comments, not apologizing and repeating them elsewhere in the media and in front of cameras," it said in the statement published on its website (www.antiracisme.be)."

This is the statement that the Cardinal spoke: "I am willing to write in my own blood that of all those who call themselves lesbian or gay, a maximum of five to 10 percent are effectively lesbian or gay. All the rest are just sexual perverts."

Something tells me that this persecution is only going to get worse before it gets better.  We may very well be entering a time when it will be illegal to preach the truth about homosexuality, abortion, contraception, or a number of other issues.  Are you willing to suffer for the truth?  I am.

Are "Pro-Choicers" Really For Freedom Of Choice?

This article says no. It tells the story of how those who are "Pro-Choice" are really only pro-choice when the choice you are choosing is the same as theirs. They strive to suppress people from choosing to live the truth. This article tells the story of Neil Noesen, a pharmasist who is trying, with much persecution, to exercise his right to choose to refrain from dispensing contaceptives, as his faith requires him to do.

According to the article, "Noesen did not obstruct access to the hormonal contraceptive in any way, but simply refused to aid and abet a couple in obtaining and using hormonal contraceptives; he would have felt badly about doing so. No law prohibits such conscientious objection; however, Noesen later received a stipulation from the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing with a total of eight charges that Noesen claims to be erroneous interpretations of the applicable provisions of law."

I totally agree with Mark Baumgardner, the author of this article, when he says, "As "pro-choice" advocates have enjoyed an invented "right" for more than 30 years [contraception], it's now time that healthcare professionals once again enjoy the right to free religious expression -- a First Amendment right in existence since the founding of our society."

If you want to support Mr. Noesen, click here for information on how to do so.

I Think This Might Be A Good Idea

"In a climate charged by same-sex marriage cases in the courts, questions of who should get married are once again on the minds of the institution's religious gatekeepers, who perform more than 80 percent of America's 1.1 million weddings each year. And as half of the nation's new marriages continue to end in divorce, some pastors feel it is high time to ask certain couples to reconsider.

"There's quite a movement growing for churches to get on the ball and revisit the trend for marriages to happen as soon as the couple wants it," Browning says. "Pastors are asking themselves, 'Did we adapt too quickly to the culture around us? Did we do young people a favor by adapting to the consumer mind-set?' Some are saying, 'Maybe we should have maintained our heritage a little more strongly.' "

I don't know about you, but I would have no problem telling a couple that they need to reconsider or delay their marriage if all signs point to a marital failure.  I think priests need to take a stronger stand against those things that we know lead to a couple separating.  For instance, we know that "according to statistics, forty percent of those who cohabit never marry. But more to the point, of those that do, the divorce rate is fifty to seventy percent higher than it is for those who practice chastity before taking vows (from a Letter to a Nephew on Fornication by Frederick Marks)."  I think it is wise for a priest to discourage (and maybe even prohibit) a cohabitating couple from entering into marriage until they are willing to test their love by living apart and refraining from the sin of fornication for a time.  That, rather than cohabitating is a true test of their compatibility and commitment.

Amen Dr. Sheila!

Picture this: The guest preacher on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, "Dr. Sheila B. Koger, formidable pastor of Columbia's Bethlehem Baptist Church, who favors white satin robes, complete with surplice, and emphatic earrings. With Wes Clark sitting in the second row among a line of elected officials, Dr. Koger began her sermon with a conventional tribute to King, then took an unexpected turn.

"Everyone says these days, 'Give me rights,'" Dr. Koger said. "'Give the gay people rights,' they say." Dr. Koger's voice rose: "But the Lord God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. If you're a man, then be a man, not a woman!" Half of the congregation was on its feet before too long, shouting approval. "Now if you're not sure which you are, you can just ask yourself a simple question: 'Do I have a womb?' If you ain't got a womb, then you're a man. And you better act like one."

Fr. Johy Harvey On Same Sex Attraction And Its Origins

This is an interesting read, as is anything by Fr. John Harvey.

Pope Says That Priestly Celibacy Is Of "Inestimable Value"

John Paul II said, "chastity in celibacy has an inestimable value. It constitutes an important key for the spiritual life of priests, for their commitment in the mission, and for their appropriate pastoral relation with the faithful, which should not be based on emotional aspects, but on the responsibility of his ministry." For these reasons, the Holy Father invited priests "to be vigilant in the face of the seductions of the world and to make an examination of conscience regularly to live ever more profoundly fidelity to their commitment." The Pope added, "in the case of priests who have a way of life that does not conform to their state, it is necessary to invite them expressly to conversion."

Archbishop Burke Installed

"In his half-hour homily, Burke urged Catholics to place an image of Jesus with his exposed heart in their homes and their workplaces, and to attend daily Mass and make frequent visits to the Eucharist in area parishes. He reminded them that five years ago to the day, Pope John Paul II had preached to them on the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the papal Mass in St. Louis.

"The Holy Father came to St. Louis to teach us how to live more fully in Christ," Burke said. "The Holy Mass is the most perfect encounter which we have with Christ on this Earth, where we are able to make contact with the very wellspring of grace."

Burke's loudest and most sustained applause - over 30 seconds - came after his two-line mention of the respect of life "from conception to a natural death" with his regret that "too many lives have already been taken by violence.""

The ceremony was one of the finest liturgies that I have ever seen. The music, the vestments, the "smells and bells," the crowd, and the ritual brought tears to my eyes. It was a great day for the local Church of St. Louis, and indeed the whole Church, yet the critics are already speaking out. G. Wayne Smith, Bishop of Missouri's 14,000 Episcopalians said, "(Burke) really tried to persuade people with his moral teaching but he will find that Missourians don't take kindly to being told what to think and what to do."

The only problem with what G. Wayne Smith said is that the teachings of Archbishop Burke are not his own, they are the teachings of God, and so people who reject the truth he preaches, are in turn rejecting the very teachings of God. We do not preach our own opionions, we preach and teach what Jesus Himself taught. That might be something some of our Christian brothers and sisters need to learn.

Archbishop-Elect Burke To Be Installed Today

The festivites began last night with Solemn Vespers in the Cathedral, and today at 2 pm (Central Standard Time) the Mass of Installation will begin. It will bet televised live by EWTN.  If you watch closely you might catch a glimps of yours truly.

Congratulations Jesus

Slavery and Abortion...A Comparison

Compliments of Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam:

SLAVERY - Although he may have a heart and a brain, and he may be human life biologically, a slave is not a legal person. The Dred Scott decision by the U.S. Supreme Court has made that clear.
ABORTION - Although he may have a heart and a brain, and he may be a human life biologically, an unborn baby is not a legal person. The Roe v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court has made that clear.

SLAVERY - A black man only becomes a legal person when he is set free. Before that time, we should not concern ourselves about him. He has no legal rights.
ABORTION - A baby only becomes a legal person when he is born. Before that time, we should not concern ourselves about him. He has no legal rights.

SLAVERY - If you think slavery is wrong, then nobody is forcing you to be a slave-owner. But don't impose your morality on somebody else!
ABORTION - If you think abortion is wrong, then nobody is forcing you to have one. But don't impose your morality on somebody else!

SLAVERY - A man has a right to do what he wants with his own property.
ABORTION - A woman has a right to do what she wants with her own body.

SLAVERY - Isn't slavery really something merciful? After all, every black man has the right to be protected. Isn't it better never to be set free than to be sent unprepared, and ill-equipped, into a cruel world?
ABORTION - Isn't abortion really something merciful? After all, every baby has a right to be wanted. Isn't it better never to be born than to be sent alone and unloved into a cruel world?

1857 - Dred Scott decision
1973 - Roe v. Wade decision

Are The Democratic Candidates For President On The Same Page As The Rest Of America?

Joel Rosenburg, in this article, say's no, and uses the abortion debate to prove it.  Here is a quote:

"Thirty-one years have passed since the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. More than 43 million children have died. Yet even as the country's attitudes have shifted in favor of more restrictions on abortion, Democrats haven't shifted at all. Indeed, they have become extremists on the issue, and it may cost them, especially in the south.

A CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll conducted last January found that 70 percent of Americans support a ban on partial-birth abortion. Younger Americans feel even more strongly that killing a baby in the process of being born is downright barbaric. A whopping 77 percent of Americans age 18 to 29 favor the ban on partial-birth abortion signed by President Bush last year. Perhaps even more interesting, 57 percent of obstetricians and gynecologists favor the ban.

Yet not a single leading Democrat running for president does."

Now Here Is A Bishop Who Say's What He Thinks

It was probably imprudent to say what he said in public, but he may have a point. My guess is that most men and women who think they are homosexual are indeed not.  In fact, according to Christopher West in his book, "The Good News About Sex and Marriage" there is no such thing as a homosexual, just heterosexuals who have disordered inclinations.  I tend to agree with Mr. West.

Check It Out

Yup, EWTN has a second exclusive interview with Mel Gibson.  "In the interview, Gibson breaks his silence, speaking for the first time about charges that his film, The Passion of the Christ is anti-Semitic. He talks about his bold vision for the project and his motivation for making the film. Gibson tells Arroyo, “It reflects my beliefs-I’ve never done that before.”

He also candidly comments on the controversy surrounding the movie, his resistance to altering the film, and his personal commitment to press forward: “I don’t know if I will ever work again. I’ve said that this is a career killer and it could well be, but that doesn’t matter because I don’t care,” Gibson says in the interview."

The Prophet Scalia

From the Daily Herald:

"From his seat at the bench of the nation's highest court, Justice Antonin Scalia last June launched a fiery dissent against the majority ruling that struck down a Texas law banning gay sex.

His colleagues, Scalia said, were unleashing a wave of challenges to state laws against "bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bestiality, and obscenity ... "

The case was Lawrence v. Texas. Seven months later, a Utah lawyer is fulfilling Scalia's warning as he attempts to use that Supreme Court ruling to challenge the state's ban on polygamy, a felony crime believed to be practiced by thousands in the state..."

Guess he was right.

The Da Vinci Code

As many of you remember I was recently promoting a presenation sponsored by Kenrick-Glennon Seminary entitled Decoding the Da Vinci Code. The presentation was wonderful, in fact it was a rather moving experience for me. Let me explain why. As we were planning for the event, we really did not expect many people, in fact we had only set up for about one hundred guests, but as the day of the presentation drew near we began recieving many phone calls asking for information. As the phone was ringing off the hook, we decided to fill the auditorium with chairs and set up two classrooms with a simulcast of the presentation just in case we needed it. Later that night, I was greeting our visitors at the front door, and round about six (the presentation started at seven) people began to arrive. Soon there was a steady flow of cars coming up the drive, and it did not stop until we began turning people away at about five minutes to seven. The police tell us that when we started turning people away, the cars were lined up all the way to interstate 44 (a good twelve blocks away). All said and done we had well over 300 people present for the presentation. In response to the overwhelming turn out we are doing it again on Feb. 5th. Also, we will be making an interactive CD or a video copy of the presentation at cost. If you are interested in obtaining one please e-mail me (padredana@hotmail.com) and I will get you the information you need. Below is the flyer for the next presentation. If you didn't make it to the first one, come to the second one, you won't be dissapointed.

This just goes to show how hungry people are for the truth.

Decoding The Da Vinci Code

Kenrick-Glennon Seminary

5200 Glennon Drive, Shrewsbury MO

Thursday, February 5th, 2004

7:00-9:00 P.M.

Presenters:

Rev. Gregory J. Lockwood, S.T.D. (Candidate)

Visiting Professor

Reverend Michael J. Witt, Ph.D., M.Div.

Associate Professor of Church History

Dr. Lawrence J. Welch, Ph.D.

Professor of Systematic Theology

If Scripture confirms that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead and that he lived a life of celibate ministry, why would some claim that he was married to Mary Magdalene and never died on the cross?

If records show that the so-called Priory of Sion was a 1950’s invention of an eccentric anti-Semite, why would some claim it was a secret society founded in 1099?

Come, explore these and other controversies surrounding America’s best selling novel.

Directions: Kenrick-Glennon Seminary is located at 5200 Glennon Drive, off Weil Avenue – approximately 6 blocks west of Chippewa and 10 Blocks east of Laclede Station Road.

For further information please call 314-792-6103

The Effects Of Television And Music On Teenagers

As the gay and lesbian lifestyle is being promoted more and more on television and in music, it is coming to be seen by teenagers as something normal, which clearly it is not.  As the gay and lesbian community use the media to push their agenda to normalize that which is not, young people are beginning to believe that it is something attractive.  The thinking goes like this: "If Britney does it, it must be fine."  Boy, if that comment doesn't send shiver's down your spine, I don't know what will. 

Soon, Showtime will premier a new show about women living a lesbian lifestyle.  This television show, along with others like it ("Will & Grace,” “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” and Showtime’s “Queer as Folk") clearly influence our young people.  Here is your proof.

Amen To That!

There is an excellent article by Melissa Pardue and Robert Rector on NRO today.  It is about abstinence education vs. "safe sex" base education.  Here are a few excerpts, but please, read the whole article found here:

"The dangers of early sexual activity are well documented. It leads to higher levels of child and maternal poverty, elevates the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, and often leaves teenage girls depressed, even suicidal. It contributes to marriage failure in adulthood.  So why is the government spending 12 times more promoting so-called "safe sex" than it does encouraging people to wait?"

"Abstinence-education programs work. Many evaluations show they can substantially reduce teen sexual activity. That's all to the good, as many social science studies link beginning sexual activity at an older age to higher levels of personal happiness in adulthood."

This article exposes what the "safe sex" education that the government is spending it's money on is all about.  The authors state that "middle- and high school students are told about the joys of bathing together, watching sexually explicit movies together and reading erotic books and magazines. The "Be Proud! Be Responsible!" program promoted by the Centers for Disease Control asks teens to "think up a fantasy using condoms" then "use condoms as a method of foreplay." Kids as young as 13 are taught to "act sexy/sensual" while putting on condoms.  "Becoming A Responsible Teen," also pushed by the CDC, ironically gives students instructions that are likely to make them behave irresponsibly. The program has teens practice putting a condom on a plastic phallus and encourages them to scrounge around the house for a sexual lubricant. "B.A.R.T." helpfully suggests grape jelly, maple syrup, and honey."

This makes me sick.  To think that studies show that abstinence based education works, and that sex before marriage is dangerous on a psychological, develpmental, and even physical level, and still the government insistes on pumping large amounts of cash into programs that promote the above activities.

What Rapture Alert Level Are We At?

It looks like the good folks at the fictional (at least I hope it's fictional) Landover Baptist Church recently were expecting the return of Jesus.  They celebrated this wondrous event by throwing a vivacious rapture party.  This was the 1,972nd year that Jesus failed to show up...bummer.  Read about it here.

Ahh...Good Old Farmer Hank

Oh No!!!

I Can't Belive NRO Published This

Read the article.  Then read this.  I think the second one makes more sense.  Don't you?

Wow...This Reminds Me Of Our Old Friend Joe London

Who I haven't heard from in quite some time, and whose anti-religious blog hasn't been updated since November 27th...wonder where he went?  Anyway, this is what appears to be a tool used to train evangelical athiests who do their evangelizing online (like the aformentioned Joe London).  I think it gives us some good insights into how to counter their tactics.  Read it, it's quite interesting, especially if you have ever been in dialogue with a staunch athiest.

Well, I Guess I Am A Heretic

At least according to the Tabernacle Baptist Church who is peddling a tract that explains the "heresies and human traditions adopted and perpetuated by the Roman Catholic Church."  You can read the tract here. 

Mark Shea had a lovely comment on this.  He says, "If only Protestants like this would get back into the Word of God and stop binding themselves to these false traditions of men. If they were not blinded by their ecclesial masters from encountering that Word in Scripture, they would know that God has said, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." But instead, they mindlessly cut and paste the traditions of their elders and tell us stuff like "the Bible was forbidden" at "the council of Valencia" in 1229."  To read his entire post on this click here.